ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday issued warnings of road closures and landslides in the country’s northern areas from January 26 to 27 due to heavy snowfall, urging citizens to exercise “extra caution”.
In a statement, the PMD said heavy snow could disrupt transport in towns including Naran, Kaghan, Dir, Swat, Kalam, Chitral, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Shangla, Astore, Hunza, Skardu, Murree, Galliyat, Neelum Valley, Bagh, Poonch, Haveli, Quetta, Ziarat, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Qila Saifullah, Nushki, Harnai and Zhob.
The department also warned of possible landslides and avalanches in the hilly areas of upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir. Tourists are advised to avoid unnecessary travel over the next two days.
Heavy snow, avalanches and landslides have already disrupted life across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), blocking roads, stranding travellers and affecting electricity and relief operations amid freezing temperatures.
On Friday, at least nine members of a family were killed when an avalanche buried their house in lower Chitral.
The PMD said a western weather system would affect south-western Balochistan from Sunday night and spread to western and northern parts of the country from today (Monday).
Today (Monday), the PMD predicted cloudy weather with intermittent rain, thunderstorms and snow across KP, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and upper Punjab, with heavy snowfalls in hilly areas. Rain and thunderstorms were also likely in South Punjab and upper Sindh.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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